Twenty-six hours after its big Season 2 premiere after the Super Bowl, NBC’s The Voice was back on the air, delivering American Idol-size ratings in its first post-Super Bowl outing. The singing competition posted a 6.6/16 among adults 18-49 and 17.7 million viewers from 8-10 PM last night, logging NBC’s highest non-Olympics 18-49 rating in the slot in eight years. It was NBC’s highest-rated regular non-sports telecast on any night in more than four years (since the Season 2 premiere of Heroes in September 2007) and the network’s first in-season win in the Monday 8-10 PM time period over all original competition in more than three years (since Deal Or No Deal in November 2008.) The Voice grew steadily throughout the two hours (5.3, 6.2, 7.3, 7.7). As for its post-Super Bowl dropoff (60%), it was in line with its predecessors (Fox’s Glee (59%) and CBS’ Undercover Boss (67%, but it had to face the Olympics in its first regular airing). Versus the Season 1 premiere, The Voice was up 29%.

The stats for the debut of NBC’s heavily promoted new musical drama Smash are not as overwhelmingly positive. It got off to a solid start with a 3.8/10 in 18-49 and 11.5 million viewers to rank as the third-highest-rated new drama series premiere this season behind ABC’s Once Upon A Time (4.0) and Fox’s Touch (3.9, technically a preview after Idol). It posted the best 18-49 rating for any regular 10 PM drama this season and outpaced the season premiere of CBS’ Hawaii Five-0 (3.4), which followed the highly rated debut of 2 Broke Girls (7.1) in September. And, in a testament as much to NBC’s weakness in the hour with ratings duds like The Playboy Club and Rock Center With Brian Williams as to the strength of Smash, the new drama quadrupled the network’s season average in the slot. But there are some reasons for concern, related to the drop-off from The Voice lead-in and mostly to the 19% slide from Smash‘s first to second half-hour. Also, this is one of the most expensive first-year shows on the air, costing some $3.5 million an episode (its pilot was made for almost twice as much) and backed by the biggest promo campaign this season. (Outside sources peg it at a record $25 million, though NBC brass maintain that it stayed under $10 million). NBC won the night in 18-49 and total viewers.

NBC’s revamped Monday lineup took a toll on the competition, especially Fox. Fox’s House (2.4/6) was down 17% from last week, Alcatraz (2.2/5) down 21%.

A milestone at CBS that was overshadowed by the NBC fireworks: What I considered inevitable given the ratings trajectories of 2 Broke Girls and Two And A Half Men finally happened last night. Rookie Girls (4.3/11, down 7% from two weeks ago) edged veteran Men (4.2/10, down 9% to a season low) for the first time with originals to become CBS’ top-rated Monday comedy. (In the battle of the sexes, girls beat men, how about that!) The only other series to accomplish that was The Big Bang Theory before it was relocated to open a Thursday comedy block for CBS. Will 2 Broke Girls follow it next fall? How I Met Your Mother (4.0/11) was down 9% from three weeks ago, Mike & Molly (3.4/8) was down 11% to a season low, and Hawaii Five-0 (2.7/7) was down 4%. ABC’s The Bachelor (2.6/6) weathered the storm well, flat with last week, while Castle (2.0/5) was down 5% from two weeks ago.

31 Comments

Smash is a great show, but seems relatively slow for network television. It lacks the omnipresent underscore, rapid editing, and smarm we’ve become so accustomed to.

I had one metric this morning for determining how the show will do, which is to see how the music from it was doing on iTunes. Disappointingly, both Smash songs were in the 100s on the singles chart. Ouch. I hope this fantastic show lasts, but I’m concerned. Dumb it down, NBC!

Ralph • on Feb 7, 2012 11:45 am

Are you being serious?

Chris F • on Feb 7, 2012 1:23 pm

A little unfair to compare “Smash” sales to “Glee” sales, considering that “Glee” songs are remakes of popular hits, while the “Smash” songs were completely original songs being heard from the first time (with the exception of Katharine McPhee’s take on “Beautiful”).

I was getting turned off by all the hype, but I was pleasantly surprised to find the show to be compelling, engaging and fresh.

Anonymous • on Feb 7, 2012 10:33 am

The River will do well tonight.

Evans • on Feb 8, 2012 4:48 pm

too bad it didnt…

Jake • on Feb 7, 2012 10:48 am

To me, NBC is just so incredibly stupid or very cocky. They could easily have premiered both these shows on tuesdays where there is not this fierce competition from the other networks and it would be free from any other reality programming. They pretty much buried heroes this way and didnt they see the subpar results of the sing off in the fall?? For a show airing after the superbowl and getting 37 million viewers and drop to 17 is too much bleeding and it didnt have to be had it aired on tuesday. Smash should get a repeat this Thursday at 10.

Magilla • on Feb 7, 2012 2:26 pm

Agreed, they should repeat it Sunday and as many times as they can after that.

Magilla • on Feb 7, 2012 2:27 pm

Oops, I meant Thursday as you were suggesting.

mumba • on Feb 7, 2012 10:48 am

I agree, Todd. I liked Smash a lot but it felt really narrow for a network show. I wish it would last, but a 19% slide during the show… Doesn’t look good :(

I missed season 1 of the Voice and watched yesterday and today. I think the real winner is whoever cast the coaches. It feels like a sit-com in terms of personalities. Christina plays the diva great, which is a good conflict because Adam Levine is the clear star of the show (As my daughter points out — He’s the only one “trending” on twitter). C-lo and Blake Shelton are fantastic supporting characters. I think I’ll watch at least a few more episodes.

I tivo’d the Monday night comedies. I feel there’s more urgency to want to watch the competition shows live (I feel the same way about sports), whereas I can watch the other comedies whenever. I like 2 broke girls the best, which feels like it’s settling into its own.

scott rayon • on Feb 7, 2012 11:12 am

It was typical… characters, writing (some moments cringe worthy). I expected – was hoping – for more. NBC is a shell of its former self and has no idea how to get out from under it.

Harry • on Feb 7, 2012 11:19 am

I wouldn’t expect songs from Smash to do anywhere near as good as the tunes from Glee do on iTunes, mainly because I feel that Smash does feel and will skew slightly older than Glee. Keep in mind the show is on at 10pm.

If it can keep its 18-49 rating between 2.5 – 2.8 in lets say 2 weeks, then I think NBC will be ok with it, but not pleased considering how much each episode costs to produce.

Then again, is not as if NBC has more than 2 shows doing anything above 2.0 in the demo, so I guess it will have to do.

Bullett • on Feb 7, 2012 12:01 pm

The stats might be somewhat off with Smash due to the fact the episode has been available online, and downloadable, for a few weeks now. I think many that might have an interest in the show, already had seen this episode. That could have skewed the ratings, at least to some degree. More will be revealed!

scifi_fan • on Feb 7, 2012 12:05 pm

I thought it had a fair amount of smarm. I remember cringing several times at sitcommy elements. But I watch mostly cable, so my smarm-sense may be off. This is probably The Wire by broadcast standards.

Frank O'File • on Feb 7, 2012 12:06 pm

Unlike GLEE, the songs from SMASH are not primarily easily digestible covers. The 10 o’clock time slot was questionable to me, but hope word of mouth builds…it was a terrific hour, as these things go.

Mission Acromplished • on Feb 7, 2012 12:20 pm

The FOX decade is ending. They had a great run.

CM • on Feb 7, 2012 12:33 pm

I was struggling through the first 45 min of Smash, an apparently the rest of American was too, but the last 15 min picked up enough to keep me interested.

John • on Feb 7, 2012 12:44 pm

It says a lot about the quality of their other shows, if NBC is still able to pull these kind of numbers. Sure, Voice’s numbers might have been pushed by the Super Bowl a bit, but they’re nevertheless impressive.

Gina • on Feb 7, 2012 12:48 pm

Loved The Voice and LOVED Smash !!!
Congratulations to NBC.

jesse • on Feb 7, 2012 1:06 pm

Smash should have done better with that amount of promotional budget. I’ve never seen a show rammed down my throat as much. It wasn’t very good though. Didn’t hold my interest. It didn’t impact that much on HFO or Castle though so there is obviously a different audience out there that don’t like either of these shows so maybe there is room for Smash to keep a decent audience.

Teon • on Feb 7, 2012 1:35 pm

Personally, I enjoyed SMASH and am looking forward to future episodes. I think for NBC, the ratings for SMASH are good enough. Sure, a 19% slide during the show isn’t always a good sign but, I think part of the reason the pilot received “low” ratings is because it was available for free on iTunes, Amazon, Video on Demand, Xbox, PlayStation, Vudu before the premiere, and was available on Hulu and NBC.com beginning January 23rd.

Joe in SM • on Feb 7, 2012 1:48 pm

I enjoyed both shows but I have to agree with the bad idea of premiering Smash on a Monday where the competition is so fierce. NBC, you have a good thing here. Don’t f it up.

I’ll be shocked if 2 1/2 Men comes back next year- it is AWFUL without Charlie Sheen- Ashton Kutcher was NOT a good choice- at least we still have reruns and DVD’s to enjoy the show in it’s prime…

Zeke • on Feb 7, 2012 6:08 pm

Jump the Shark for this show once Kutcher joined it.

FilmFreak • on Feb 7, 2012 5:43 pm

I really really liked Smash. I like Katherine McPhee and want good things for her. I think this show has a ton of potential but please NBC, please put it somewhere rock solid competition won’t kill it. Give it an opening and let it grow. I like Castle a lot too, but I think I’ll be watching Smash for now. I even liked Debra Messing and she isn’t a particular favourite of mine.

Jed • on Feb 7, 2012 6:07 pm

It’s a positive start for NBC but they have to stop depending on constant realityy and music shows to get them over the hump. More scripted fare needs to be place in the tiemslots they are hurting in if it ever wants a chance to get out of the doldrums and back to respectability. Sure it did well (SMASH) last night, but how will it do the following few weeks time? NBC promoted thye hell out of this show andf it worked, but will the audience come back next week?

Smash • on Feb 7, 2012 6:15 pm

What’s with the dark colors on smash ????
It looks dingy ; all desaturated types of tv shows have been unsuccessful ,

AaronSch • on Feb 7, 2012 10:03 pm

I took a chance on “Smash” last night and I was pleasantly surprised. It is far and away the best of the new shows this season. I sure hope word-of-mouth works to elevate it to “must-see” status. It certainly deserves it.

marc5 • on Feb 7, 2012 10:12 pm

Alot of the old stallions are not drawing the big crowds anymore. With new competition from NBC expect House and 2 1/2 Men to fade even further in the weeks ahead. I suspect the House/Alcatraz combo could drop to the high 1’s in demo rating, especially when ABC brings back Dancing With The Stars. Two and Half Men and Mike and Molly will probably drop into the mid 3’s/high 2’s. Of course time will tell which direction they will untimately go, but right now the elevator arrow is lit in the down direction. I also wonder how much harder Idol will fall now that The Voice is on as well. They don’t compete directly but 2 singing competitions in one season proved to be a disaster for both shows last fall. Perhaps the same thing happens again this spring.

dsm • on Feb 8, 2012 9:21 am

SMASH was a great show. However, we did NOT like the 10 pm start time, so we–along with a great many other people, I’m guessing–chose to watch it via Hulu Plus via our Xbox360. It is superior to GLEE in every single way. The songs by Marc Shaiman reflect his Tony Award-winning pedigree, and both McPhee and Megan Hilty gave great performances, with the final song “Let Me Be Your Star” easily one of the best moments on TV I’ve seen in years.

Also, nice to Debra Messing not in her awful “Will & Grace” persona. She is such a talented actress.

NBC needs to give this show every opportunity to be the SMASH it deserves to be.

Yech • on Feb 8, 2012 9:28 am

Watching smash was a total waste of time; the promos were intentionally deceptive as the music was nonexistant; ONE song, ONE !!!!!
Makes glee look like a miracle.
Also, the acting in smash was stinky and OLD;
old tired faces that nobody is interested in looking at or listening to. Worst show I have ever wasted my time on; a total DUPE !!!!!!!!
Thanks for wasting everyones time running ads for a faker.

Mark • on Feb 12, 2012 10:21 pm

Is it realistic? Nope. Could it be a season long “All About Eve?” “Stage Door?” “Stage Struck?” Addictive and a guilty pleasure? Yep. Debra Messing and Angelica Huston, great choices and keeping things grounded. Great to see the New York locations and talent. Bring on the Cameron Mackintosh character.